Sad Day for Children of Gaza

GAZA CITY – 08 March 2006 - UNICEF said Monday was a sad day for the children of Gaza, after five were killed in conflict-related incidents.

In the first incident, two brothers, aged 14 and 15, were killed instantly when they were exposed to an unexploded device in a pond in Bereij, south of Gaza City.

Later in the day, two brothers, aged 11 and 15, and a 14-year-old boy were killed as bystanders during an air attack.

Monday's tragic incidents bring the year's death toll of Palestinian children to conflict-related violence to 11. The organization noted that yesterday's one day toll was very high at a time when overall child casualties were actually going down.

UNICEF said the events of Monday starkly illustrate how children are impacted in many ways by the conflict. In line with the Convention on the Rights of the Child all efforts should be made to protect children from violence as well as their rights to education, health and play.